A Pop Music Critic's Blog

By MIKEL TOOMBS
Gwenno Saunders, once lead singer of British girl-band Pipettes (the delightful if slight 2007 “We Are the Pipettes”), soon will be debuting “a political concept album inspired by an obscure Welsh language sci-fi novel, subtly disguised as a blissful kraut-pop record.”
Sung entirely in Welsh, “apart from one song in Cornish,” the album, called, [...]

By GENE STOUT
Country music is extremely popular in Seattle, despite the city’s reputation as a mecca for grunge and alternative rock.
Now along comes musician Dylan Jakobsen, who was born in Seattle during the grunge era of the ’90s and grew up on a diet of classic rock. But his preferred style today is country rock, [...]

By MIKEL TOOMBS
If you’re a pro wrestling fan, Monday, April 27, was the greatest day you’ve ever known.
Yes, Billy Corgan, “Smashing Pumpkins mastermind and rock innovator,” has signed on as Senior Producer, Creative and Talent Development, for TNA Wrestling’s flagship program “Impact Wrestling,” televised Friday nights on Destination America. (Despite all the rage, he’s still [...]

By GENE STOUT
Powerhouse blues-rock singer Dana Fuchs and her band bring their current tour to the Northwest, with shows March 17 and 18 at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley and March 21 at Jazzbones in Tacoma.
Her latest release, “Songs From the Road,” is packed with soulful swagger. If you’ve experienced her new live CD/DVD, recorded at the [...]

By MIKEL TOOMBS
The URL of the Washington Post story says it all:
Because Brooklyn, indeed.
Comedians Viviana Olen and Matt Harkins have launched a Kickstarter campaign (raising more than $2,000) to fund the Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan 1994 Museum (#THNK1994 is the hashtag) in their borough apartment. (If they reach their goal, guided tours will be [...]